The Loser's Guide to Life and Love: A Novel

This was an easy and engaging read. I liked the alternating viewpoints of each character and the events being told in their own voice in different chapters. ( )

Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com

Ed McIff works at Reel Life Movies where he has to dress in frilly shirts and wear a name tag that doesn't even say his own name, but that of Sergio.

Often, to pass the time, Ed and his best friend, Scout, like to imagine who the mysterious "Sergio" really is. One day, when a beautiful girl comes in named Ellie, Ed pretends to not be his loser-self, but the super-cool and suave Brazilian Sergio.

While pursuing Ellie, Ed finds that he actually has feelings for his longtime best friend, Scout. But the only problem is that Ed's other best friend, Quark, also wants to be with Scout. What will happen when Ellie finds out that Ed is really Sergio? What will happen when Quark and Ed battle for the same girl? What will come of this complicated love square?

Cannon creates truly entertaining characters in this very fast-paced story about a teenage boy finding out who he is and what he wants. While the story is somewhat clichéd, the reader is sure to be entranced by this romantic comedy.

The main character of Ed is hilarious in a dorky way that makes him the favorite of any reader. Overall, this book is a great read for teen readers wanting a little Days of Our Lives mixed with Boy Meets World. ( )

This book made me giggle so many times. I loved the short chapters and the different points of view. A quick, cute read. ( )

Very loosely based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with themes of mistaken identity and miss-matched lovers (or teen “lusters” here, as the book is quite clean), A. E. Cannon has conjured up a delightful, quick-to-read summer romantic comedy that will appeal to both boys and girls. The story’s quick pace fits nicely into the nine day timeframe from June12th until the annual June 21st midsummer’s costume party held by the powerful, and somewhat mysterious, owner of the Reel Life movie rental store in Salt Lake City where Ed and Scout both work. Short and nerdy, but with a killer smile (and good hair) Ed, by his own estimation, is such a loser that he doesn’t even warrant his own name tag but must settle for the leftover tag of Sergio, for whom he has created an alter ego that is suave and self-assured. When beautiful Ellie walks into the store one day and comments on his name Ed decides it’s time to become Sergio in real life. Soon the Shakespearean romance and antics begin. As Ed/Sergio falls for Ellie, and Ellie falls for Sergio, Scout realizes that even though she’s been best friends with Ed forever she’s now fallen for him just like one of the characters in the romance novels she reads on the sly. Simultaneously Ed’s neighbor and pal, Quark, falls for Scout. Each short chapter captures the voice of a different character with sweet humor and funny observations. Finally, under the brilliant moon of the midsummer festival all the romantic and comedic elements come together. ( )

At Ed’s summer job at a Reel Life Movies, he is required to wear a very odd-looking uniform and a name tag displaying an incorrect name, Sergio. But things aren’t as bad as they could be. He gets to hand out with his two best friends, Scout and Quark, and a very beautiful girl named Ellie might be interested in him. The only problems are that Ellie thinks Ed is a Brazilian guy named Sergio, Scout likes Ed, and Quark likes Scout. It’s a complicated love tangle that will test friendships and loyalties.

The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love was quite a hilarious novel that I truly enjoyed. It was really funny watching Ed get caught in his lies and Quarks social ineptness. All the characters are lovable, even the intimidating Ali who owns Reel Life Movies. But what I liked best about the characters, especially Ed/Sergio was how they knew they had to work things out and do the right thing. In a way, it made the story unrealistic, but it provided for a much happier ending.

The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love is based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which I appreciated because I love Shakespeare. I also liked the abundance of allusions to various movies as well as novels. I thought it was funny how certain characters started out liking the wrong person only to then start liking the right one, but it made the ending fun and happy.

If you are looking for a light and fun read, you should look out for this novel in July from HarperTeen.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com ( )